Over the past four years, nearly 50 Roedean students have travelled to Moldova, teaching English to more than 325 children. This year, after months of preparation, the latest team of ten continued that commitment, working alongside Hope4 founders, Chris and Zoe Lomas, together with their amazing team, Iuliia and Eugene. Valerie reflected: ‘Everyone at Hope4 has been so inspirational and taught me the importance of giving so selflessly.’ It is remarkable that a connection between Roedean and Hope4, formed four years ago, still endures – we are incredibly proud of this, and grateful for everything the charity does behind the scenes to make our trip such a success.

This summer camp is genuinely transformational, both for the children and the Roedean girls, who all benefit from the experience in so many ways. Melissa wrote, ‘One of the most rewarding parts of the trip was our four days of teaching English to local children, many of whom are refugees or come from families living in poverty. Although we were teaching the children English, I often felt that they were teaching me something even more valuable. Their kindness, lack of judgement, openness, and genuine warmth made a deep impression on me.’vx

Teaching Beyond Language

This year’s English camp welcomed 101 children from underprivileged backgrounds and refugee families. Having trained since January, the Year 11 and 12 Roedean students – Darcey, Farwa, Jamie, Jasmine, Katie, Lennie, Magreta, Melissa, Molly, and Valerie – arrived with carefully prepared lesson plans, worksheets, and teaching resources, ready to deliver four days of engaging English lessons.

They taught five classes, carefully organised according to ability and whether children were Romanian- or Russian-speaking. Alongside local Moldovan children, this year the classes also included refugees from Syria, Angola, Palestine, Azerbaijan, and Iraq, making the experience an extraordinary celebration of cultures united through learning. Reflecting on the teaching experience, Ms Joslyn said: ‘Watching the girls teach local young people and refugees English was the peak of the trip for me. They were adaptable, engaging and it was clear the students had progressed significantly by the end of the trip.’

For many of the students, the challenge of overcoming language barriers became one of the most rewarding aspects of the week. Molly reflected, ‘Communication was a constant problem, but finding ways to teach a simple sentence, such as “I like football but I don’t like basketball” was another amazing achievement. Being able to make even the smallest impression on these children is another reward in itself.’ Jasmine added, ‘It was especially rewarding to see the children have breakthrough moments in their learning, and I thoroughly enjoyed delivering interactive lessons that encouraged them to express their knowledge and ideas.’

Supporting the Wider Community

The English lessons formed just one part of the visit. Throughout the week, our students witnessed first-hand the breadth of Hope4’s work across Moldova. We visited families living in poverty in villages outside the capital, seeing how Hope4 provides practical and ongoing support for them. We also spent time at the Rainbow of Hope Orphanage, where we presented them with a cheque for more than £7,300, raised through a wide range of fundraising activities at School throughout the year. This donation represents approximately 5% of the orphanage’s total annual running costs, and reflects Roedean’s continued commitment to supporting its work.

Darcey said, ‘The most fulfilling aspects of the trip for me were visiting some families in poverty, and meeting the children in the orphanage. We took them supplies and got to know them, and knowing that we were helping, even in such a small way, has given me a new passion to come back and help on a larger scale if I ever get the chance.’ Melissa agreed: ‘Visiting the orphanage also left a lasting impression on me. Knowing that our efforts could make a real difference to the lives of these children made all the fundraising worthwhile.’

While we were there, we also volunteered for just an hour at Hope4’s donation warehouse, sorting more than 1100 donated trainers into matching pairs and ordered by size. That sounds a lot, but this constituted just two pallets of footwear, but there were still another 28 pallets waiting to be sorted by the Hope4 volunteers. This was a fraction of the donated goods which go through the charity’s warehouse each year, highlighting the remarkable scale of its work.

Discovering Moldova

Alongside their volunteering, our students immersed themselves in Moldova’s history, culture, and traditions. We explored Chișinău on a guided walking tour, visited the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ and the Eternal Flame memorial, with its striking 25-metre-high stand of bayonets commemorating those from Moldova who lost their lives during the Second World War. We also visited the beautiful Căpriana Monastery, learned traditional pottery-making techniques, sampled Moldovan specialities, including cabbage plăcinte and cherry pastries, and we toured the Moldovan Olympic Museum.

A visit to a local gymnastics club proved particularly memorable, where the girls met a young athlete preparing to represent Moldova in Rhythmic Gymnastics at the World Championships this summer. We also visited an animal sanctuary caring for around 200 stray dogs and 30 cats, gaining further insight into the work of charitable organisations across the country. Our group’s experiences and teaching even attracted media attention, with our work featured on Moldovan national television!

A Life-Changing Experience

For many pupils, the week became about far more than teaching English. Irina had a unique perspective on the trip – she is from Moldova, and has just completed two years at Roedean in the Sixth Form as an HMC Scholar. She reflected on the partnership’s long-term impact: ‘Every summer, seeing Roedean return to Moldova reminds me of the powerful impact a small group of students can have on hundreds of children. Being part of the project allowed me to see Moldova from another perspective, better understand the challenges many children face, and appreciate even more the impact of this project. I think the smiles on the children’s faces, the cards, and the hugs at the end of the camp say everything about how meaningful this experience was for them.’

Katie said, ‘The week has been the most exciting and inspiring week of my life. I have had so many amazing, but emotionally challenging, experiences that have taught me so much and sparked a passion inside of me which is guiding me to a new path in the future, one which will hopefully help others as much as Hope4 has.’

Magreta reflected on the wider significance of the project: ‘It’s not about teaching English, but about the hope that we can give to the children of a future where the world won’t be split but united in peace.’ Jamie described the visit as ‘the highlight of my summer’, while Farwa reflected that every aspect of the experience ‘developed my character’. Melissa concluded: ‘I did not anticipate how profoundly the experience would reshape my own perspective… I know the experiences I gained in Moldova will continue to shape the way I see the world for years to come.’

As Roedean’s fourth visit to Moldova came to an end, the students returned home having taught English, supported communities, strengthened international friendships and witnessed the extraordinary difference that education, generosity and hope can make. The partnership with Hope4 continues to demonstrate that meaningful service not only changes lives within the communities it supports, but also leaves a lasting impact on the young people who take part. Dr Ross Barrand, Deputy Head, is incredibly proud of the project: ‘Four years ago, when I came up with the slightly mad idea of Project 125 Moldova, I never dreamt that it would make such a profound impact, in so many different ways, and on so many people – it is wonderful!’

At the end of a remarkable week, Lennie concluded, ‘I’ve honestly never felt so fulfilled in my life as I have on this trip. Hope4, this trip, and the School have given me the chance to meet Olympians, help sort donated sportswear, spend time with national gymnasts, and teach children, and together they have ignited a genuine passion within me. It has been an incredibly valuable experience and something I believe will guide me for the rest of my life.’